Toy battle-ship



Patented Apr. 18, I899. A. G. JACOBS.

M 9 Wm I 8 w u Te Mm M m 0P M (No Model.)

' INVENTOR a' IM Attorney WITNESSES IJNTT D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUSTUS G. JACOBS, OF JONESTOWN, MISSISSIPPI.

TOY BATTLE-SHIP.

SPECIFICATIONYfOrming part of Letters Patent No. 623,160, dated April 18, 1899.

Application filed November 1,1898. Serial No. 695,222. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUSTUS G. JACOBS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Jonestown, in the county of Coahoma and State of Mississippi, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Toy Battle-Ships, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying d rawin gs.

This invention relates to toy boats or toy battle-ships.

The object of the invention is to produce a toy ship which will float on the water, but which may be sunk in whole or in part by a projectile striking a particular part and without permanent damage to the structure.

Figure l is a side elevation, partly in section, of a toy battle-ship, showing generally i Fig. 2is Fig. 3 is a cross-section A indicates the hull or body of the ship.-

This may be of any suitable form and size, made in its upper part to represent any ship as actually constructed, if desired. The hull will preferably be of sheet metal, with watertight'compartments B B, in which air or some buoyant material is confined. The buoyant compartment at one side may be omitted, so that when the ship is wrecked it will turn on its side or heel over. The bottom of the hull will have one or more openings closed by suitable valves or stoppers, as will be explained. \Vhen the valves are closed and no water admitted, the hull-will float well out of water; butif one or more of the valves should be opened the hull will settle by the admission of water until the hull is just afloat'oris entirely submerged.

0 indicates a valve which opens by lifting inwardly, and D E represent plug-valves which close into holes in the bottom of the hull.

Above the valve C a military mast H is supported, preferably by a pivot or gimbal joint I, so that when the mast stands upright its base will rest on and hold down the valve 0; but when the mast is swung aside, as by a projectile striking it above the hull, the valve will be free to rise and the hull will gradually fill and sink as far as its flotation permits. The mast may be permitted by its pivols to fall more or less, but when knocked out of perpendicular will give the toy ship quite the appearance of a wreck.

Plug D is attached to a detachable part of the upper works, in this case the turret L.

The turret L is preferably buoyant and is connected by a coil of rope or twine M to the hull. A blow from a light projectile on the turret should detach plug D, when the water entering may sink the hull. If made to sink entirely the turret L will float away and by its coil M will serve as a means for raising the wreck. The flotation of the turret should be sufficientto prevent the entire submergence of some part of the wreck.

The coil of rope or twine may be arranged on the deck and attached to the deck and turret by suitable fastenings. The coiling of the ropes, knotting the same, &c., may be made instructive, as well as entertaining, to the users of the toy.

The smoke-stack N, as illustrated, also serves as a plug to an opening in the bottom, and the coil of rope 0, connected to the stack and to the hull, prevents the loss of the stack or funnel should the same be detached. The stack N will preferably be buoyant.

The mast, turret, (to. can be supplied withany desirable amount of rigging, so as to make an easy or difficult mark forprojectiles. A toy gun or battery maybe mounted on the boat, (dotted lines, Fig. 1,) on which firecracker guns may be mounted.

The toy boat can be floated in a tank or small pond and exposed to projectiles from the fire-cracker guns or may be shot at with bean-shooters, marbles, or other missiles, and the striking of one of the parts which controls a valve or opening will cause the apparent destruction or water-logging of the vessel without any real injury to the parts, so that frequent toy naval engagements may take place, resulting in apparent destruction of ships,without n1 uch expense in replacing toys. If the ships are armed with fire-cracker guns, such as are described in my application, Serial No. 687,083, filed July 27, 1898, a very effect ive simulation of a naval engagement may be made between a number of these toy ships.

It will of course be understood that the principles of construction herein explained may be applied to ditferent models of toy boats and sailing-craft. The plug-valves should not tit so tightly but that a light blow on the parts connected thereto, as the stack or turret, will open the plug or valve.

WVhat I claim is- 1. A toy ship or boat having an opening in its hull, and a movable piece projecting from The hull and controlling the opening, so that a projectile may displace the movable piece and thereby permit the entrance of Water to sink the ship or boat, substantially as described.

2. A toy ship or boat having an opening through Which Water may be admitted to sink the ship, said opening controlled by a projecting part exposed to projectiles, and a buoy connected to the boat to prevent complete submergence, substantially as described.

3. A toy ship or'boat having an openingin the bottom of its hull, a movable part of the structure projecting above the hull and serving to close said opening, when in normal position and to open the same when displaced, said ship havingabuoyant compartment substantially as described.

4. A toy ship or boat having an opening in its bottom, a buoyant detachable piece forming part of the ship or boat structure and serving as a stop for closing said opening, and a flexible connection from said detachable AUGUSTUS G. JACOBS.

\Vitnesse R. M. WISE, Gno. B. GRUBBS. 

